Story: Canoeing and rafting

Māori waka (canoes) were used for recreational activities as well as practical purposes such as transport and fishing. Waka races were a sport enjoyed by both Māori and Pākehā from the mid-19th century, and became a feature of regattas. This 1955 film shows a waka hurdle race during a regatta at Ngāruawāhia on the Waikato River.